Riverdale Park in Prince George's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Riversdale Plantation

Town Of Riverdale Park

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 28, 2018

1. Riversdale Plantation Marker

Inscription. Much of the area around you — some 1500 acres — was part of Riversdale, a plantation founded in 1801 by an aristocratic Belgian family — the Stiers — who had escaped the terror of the French Revolution and subsequent Napoleonic wars. Daughter Rosalie Stier married George Calvert, a member of Maryland's founding family, and the couple received the plantation from her father Henri upon his return to Europe after the defeat of Napoleon. Riversdale Mansion, a National Historic Landmark and Prince George's County Historic Site, is open to the public and operated by M-NCPPC and the Riversdale Historical Society. George and Rosalie Calvert finished construction of the mansion and grounds by 1807. Their son Charles Benedict Calvert (1808-1864), a slave-holder, US Congressman, and a founder of the University of Maryland at College Park, introduced scientific agriculture to the plantation, adopted ideas published in journals and newspapers, exhibited at county and state fairs, and introduced a number of his own innovations. He could implement these innovations because of the large number of slaves as many

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as 55 in 1850 at his command. One slave, Adam Francis Plummer, worked at Riversdale from age 10 in 1819 until emancipation in November 1864. Plummer left a diary, begun in 1841 and continued until his death in 1905.

Charles Calvert died six months before Maryland's new constitution emancipated all slaves within the state's borders. Calvert's will divided his estate among his children. Charles Baltimore Calvert and his wife, Eleanor Mackubin, built their farm, which they called MacAlpine, on their share of the estate, the same land on which you now stand.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings.

Location. 38° 58.174′ N, 76° 56.249′ W. Marker is in Riverdale Park, Maryland, in Prince George's County. It is at the intersection of Van Buren Street and Baltimore Avenue (Route 1) on Van Buren Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4439 Van Buren Street, Hyattsville MD 20782, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 28, 2018

2. Riversdale Plantation Marker

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies

and also the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: MacAlpine Farm (here, next to this marker); MacAlpine Icehouse (here, next to this marker); ERCO and Calvert Homes (a few steps from this marker); Trolley (approx. 0.2 miles away); Native American History (approx. ¼ mile away); Calvert Hills: A National Register Historic District (approx. ¼ mile away); ERCO (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Town of Riverdale Park (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Riverdale Park.

George Calvert and Rosalie Stier Calvert with daughter Carolina Maria by Gilbert Stuart 1804 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 28, 2018

3. George Calvert and Rosalie Stier Calvert with daughter Carolina Maria by Gilbert Stuart 1804

Close-up of images on marker

You Are Here<br>William Sides Map of Riversdale, 1853 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 28, 2018

4. You Are Here
William Sides Map of Riversdale, 1853

Close-up of map on marker

Riversdale Plantation, circa 1933 image. Click for full size.

Library of Congress - HABS

5. Riversdale Plantation, circa 1933

Charles Benedict Calvert, 1808-1864 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, May 28, 2018

6. Charles Benedict Calvert, 1808-1864

Close-up of photo on marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 3, 2018. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,530 times since then and 102 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 30, 2018, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.